Technology has had a monumental impact in virtually every industry over the years. Whether it’s shortening the time it takes to complete a task, making it easier, or simply making it safer, there’s no doubt that technology has changed the way many things are done.
This is also true for the die casting industry. With the implementation of robotics to perform some of the tasks that are part of the die casting process, things have taken a turn for the better.
What the Robots Can Do
When it comes to what exactly these robotic machines can do in die casting, there’s a rather long list. In addition to simple material handling, robotics can also be used for other tasks such as lubricating the dies that the castings come out of and placing the castings into a trim press or a conveyor after the die casting has been made.
Extraction of the die castings can also be done by robotics. They can also clean the die castings by blasting, trim press tending, gate sawing, or deburring complex shaped castings. Lastly, they can be used for finishing and machining parts by grinding, polishing, milling, or drilling the die castings as required by the customer.
Advantages
The implementation of robotics in the die casting process has given way to many advantages. Using robots, productivity has increased exponentially. Whether it’s transferring parts from one area to another with more ease or simply being able to complete a more risky task quicker than before, the benefits are apparent. And with the relatively low cost of the robots, this increase in production leads to a quick return on investment.
The quality of the parts being produced is also be greater. With the advanced technology being used in the robotics, there is much less error in producing the parts. This saves not only time, but also money in the long run.
One of the most important advantages is workplace safety. It is important for workers to have minimum heat exposure during the casting process. By using robots that are made from heat resistant materials, it eliminates the need for workers to be placed in this environment.
Things to Consider
When it comes to implementing the use of robots in the die casting process, there are many things to consider before the technology can be put to use.
Ergonomics
Also, the distance and directions that the robot will have to reach is crucial. A good look at the floor plan and space of the facility will help determine this. If a robot is moving castings, will it have to move them vertically or horizontally? How far will it have to reach to do so? Also, what temperatures will the robot be exposed to?
Planning For The Future
This process may take a lot of planning, but in the end, it will be worth it. Taking the time to set everything up correctly will help to ensure that no more time and money is wasted down the road to fix any errors that could have been avoided with a little more planning.
Plus, this planning and simulation will be useful down the road when it’s time to install the next generation of machines and technology. Using the information that has already been acquired to implement these robots, placing new ones into the system will be made much easier.
All in all, robots have had a monumental impact on the die casting process. They play a crucial role in productivity and worker safety and continue to make the industry better and more efficient. When you look at an automated die casting cell operate you will see minimal labor involved – thus the cost difference between offshore die casters and the US die casters has been reduced tremendously with the use of robotics making die castings.
We’re Here To Help
If you’d like to see a summary of our plant and capabilities here at Premier, just visit our website at www.diecasting.com and click on “Facility and Capabilities” under the “Design Expertise” option.
Or give us a call at 732-634-3000, and we will be happy to answer any questions you have.
Any inquiries or project files can also be sent to sales@diecasting.com.
By Leonard Cordaro, President of Premier Engineered Products
It’s amazing to think robots’ roles in the casting process. They really do make things safer and more efficient. I love the fact that we’re moving closer to automation.